Our Pick: MedRite
Check price on Amazon →Magnesium Citrate for Constipation (2026): Which Products Are Actually Laxatives
Only one kind of magnesium citrate on Amazon carries a laxative Drug Facts label: the oral solution. MedRite Magnesium Citrate, natural lemon, at $6.99, is labeled for relief of occasional constipation with a bowel movement generally in 30 minutes to 6 hours. The capsules and softgels from Nature Made, NOW and Nutricost are dietary supplements, not labeled to treat constipation, and this page says so before it describes them. Prices verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026.
By The Pharmacy Desk2026-09-05~12 min read Ranked on verified label facts, never box claimsHow we research
Upgrade PickNutricost Magnesium Citrate 420 mg, 240 Veggie Capsules, 60 Servings
Nutricost · 4.3
$17.95
If you want magnesium citrate for constipation, buy the product that is labeled for it: MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, natural lemon, at $6.99 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026). It is a saline laxative with a Drug Facts panel that reads relief of occasional constipation, generally produces a bowel movement in 30 minutes to 6 hours, with directions by age and a warning list about kidneys and magnesium. If you want a magnesium laxative in a chew rather than a bottle, Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews at $9.88 carry a laxative label too. Everything else on this page is a magnesium supplement, and a supplement is not a laxative.
Here is the distinction that most magnesium citrate searches miss. The lemon-flavored bottle in the pharmacy aisle is an OTC drug: it has Uses, Directions, Warnings, and a time window on a Drug Facts panel. The magnesium citrate capsules and softgels in the vitamin aisle are dietary supplements: they have a Supplement Facts panel, structure/function language such as supports normal muscle and nerve function, and no direction for constipation, because they are not approved to treat anything. People buy the capsules expecting the bottle's effect, and the labels do not promise it. This page ranks the two laxative-labeled products first, then describes the supplements exactly as their labels do, with their published strength and count, so you know what each one is and what it costs.
Label lines for the laxatives. Magnesium citrate solution: directions by age on the label, ask a doctor under 6, drink a full glass of liquid with each dose; ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease or are on a magnesium-restricted diet; occasional use; not more than 1 week without a doctor; stop and ask a doctor for rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after use. For the supplements, the only lines are the ones on their labels, which are not about constipation. We read labels and verify listings; we are not clinicians, nothing here is medical advice, and no brand paid for a placement.
The short version
- The laxative: MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, $6.99 at our September 5, 2026 check. Drug Facts label, 30 minutes to 6 hours, occasional use, kidney and magnesium warnings.
- The chewable laxative: Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, mixed berry, $9.88. A magnesium saline laxative with a Drug Facts label; count not on the listing title.
- The supplements: Nature Made 250 mg (120 for $15.33, 60 for $10.89), NOW (240 for $16.42, 120 for $8.21), Nutricost 420 mg (240 for $17.95). Supplement Facts panels; not labeled for constipation.
- A supplement capsule is not a smaller dose of the laxative bottle. The bottle is labeled to produce a bowel movement; the capsules are labeled for magnesium intake. They are different products with different panels.
- Every magnesium laxative label says ask a doctor with kidney disease or on a magnesium-restricted diet, and not more than 1 week without a doctor.
At a glance
| Product | Panel | Labeled for constipation? | Strength (per title) | Count | Cost per unit | Price (9/5/26) | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MedRite Magnesium Citrate Solution, lemon | Drug Facts | Yes, 30 minutes to 6 hours | Not on title | 1 bottle | n/a | $6.99 | Check price on Amazon |
| Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, mixed berry | Drug Facts | Yes, per panel | Not on title | Not published | n/a | $9.88 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nature Made Magnesium Citrate, 120 softgels | Supplement Facts | No | 250 mg per serving | 120 | $0.13 | $15.33 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nature Made Magnesium Citrate, 60 softgels | Supplement Facts | No | 250 mg per serving | 60 | $0.18 | $10.89 | Check price on Amazon |
| NOW Magnesium Citrate, 240 veg caps | Supplement Facts | No | Not on title | 240 | $0.07 | $16.42 | Check price on Amazon |
| NOW Magnesium Citrate, 120 veg caps | Supplement Facts | No | Not on title | 120 | $0.07 | $8.21 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nutricost Magnesium Citrate 420 mg, 240 caps | Supplement Facts | No | 420 mg (60 servings) | 240 | $0.07 | $17.95 | Check price on Amazon |
Every magnesium citrate product we verified, plus the Dulcolax magnesium saline chew. The Panel column is the whole point: Drug Facts means an OTC laxative with a constipation use; Supplement Facts means a dietary supplement with no constipation use. Prices are live Amazon figures verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026. Cost per unit only where the listing states both price and count.
MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, Natural Lemon
MedRite
The only magnesium citrate on Amazon with a laxative Drug Facts label: 30 minutes to 6 hours.
Our verdict: This is the magnesium citrate people mean when they say magnesium citrate for constipation: the lemon bottle, a saline laxative with a Drug Facts label that reads 30 minutes to 6 hours. MedRite is the generic house version of a product that is generic everywhere, and it is the only magnesium citrate in our verified catalog that is labeled for constipation at all.
Verified: Labeled active: magnesium citrate, saline laxative, oral solution, natural lemon, labeled as a laxative for constipation and fast acting per the listing title. Drug Facts panel: relief of occasional constipation; generally produces a bowel movement in 30 minutes to 6 hours; directions by age, under 6 ask a doctor. Live at $6.99 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
The bottle with the panel. MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution is a saline laxative: magnesium citrate draws water into the bowel, and the Drug Facts label reads relief of occasional constipation with a bowel movement generally in 30 minutes to 6 hours. Directions are by age on the label, with ask a doctor under 6, and the label says to drink a full glass of liquid with each dose. We do not restate the volumes.
Stop lines: rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after use means stop and ask a doctor. Where it sits among every fast-labeled product, rectal and oral, is in the best laxatives for fast relief; the wider saline and osmotic shelf is the best osmotic laxatives.
Who should buy it
Adults who want the magnesium citrate laxative, are not on the kidney or magnesium ask-a-doctor list, and understand it is an occasional, whole-bottle product.
What we don't like
A blunt instrument, a Tier B generic house, and a title that states neither the volume nor the concentration.
- Panel
- Drug Facts (OTC laxative)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium citrate (saline laxative)
- Label window
- 30 minutes to 6 hours
- Count
- 1 bottle
- Label ages
- By age on the label; under 6 ask a doctor
- Flavor
- Natural lemon
- Label frequency
- Occasional use; not more than 1 week without a doctor
What we like
- The only magnesium citrate labeled for constipation
- 30 minutes to 6 hours on the label
- Generic pricing
Worth noting
- Kidney and magnesium warnings
- Volume not on the title
- Tier B house
Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, Mixed Berry
Dulcolax
A magnesium saline laxative with a Drug Facts label, in a mixed berry chew.
Our verdict: Not magnesium citrate, but a magnesium saline laxative with the same kind of label, in a chew: the Dulcolax Soft Chews are the product for someone who wants a magnesium laxative without drinking a bottle. The listing title is truncated at magnesium and states no count, so the panel is where the strength, window and per-chew directions live.
Verified: Labeled: Dulcolax saline laxative soft chews, fast-acting, gentle constipation relief, mixed berry, magnesium-based per the listing title. Drug Facts panel carries the active, strength, window and directions. Count not on the listing title. Live at $9.88 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
A laxative label, chewable. Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews are described on the listing as a fast-acting saline laxative for gentle constipation relief, mixed berry flavor, magnesium-based. It is an OTC drug with a Drug Facts panel, which is what separates it from every capsule below.
Stop lines apply. If the chewable format is the draw, the MiraLAX house's MiraFAST chews are the same idea, covered in our MiraLAX review.
Who should buy it
Adults who want a magnesium saline laxative with a laxative label in a chew rather than a liquid.
What we don't like
Neither count nor strength on the listing title.
- Panel
- Drug Facts (OTC laxative)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium-based saline laxative (see panel)
- Label window
- Per the Drug Facts panel
- Count
- Not published
- Label ages
- Per the Drug Facts panel
- Flavor
- Mixed berry
- Label frequency
- Occasional use; not more than 1 week without a doctor
What we like
- A laxative label in a chew
- Dulcolax brand
Worth noting
- Count and strength not on the title
- Not magnesium citrate specifically
Nature Made Magnesium Citrate 250 mg per Serving, 120 softgels
Nature Made
A magnesium supplement, 250 mg per serving, 120 softgels: not a laxative, not labeled for constipation.
Our verdict: Nature Made's magnesium citrate is a dietary supplement: 250 mg of magnesium per serving, 120 softgels, a Supplement Facts panel, and no constipation use on the label. It is the most recognized magnesium supplement brand on Amazon and a fine product for what its label describes. It is not the lemon bottle in capsule form, and it does not carry the bottle's label.
Verified: Labeled: Nature Made Magnesium Citrate, 250 mg per serving, 120 softgels, per the listing title. Supplement Facts panel; a dietary supplement, not labeled to treat constipation or any condition. Live at $15.33 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
A supplement, described as one. Nature Made Magnesium Citrate states 250 mg per serving and 120 softgels in the listing title. Its panel is Supplement Facts. Its label describes magnesium's role in the body in structure/function terms; it does not list constipation as a use, does not state a time window, and does not carry laxative directions, because it is not a laxative.
Follow the Supplement Facts serving on the label and any instruction from a clinician. The general rectal-versus-oral question for constipation is in suppository vs oral laxative.
Who should buy it
People whose clinician has named a magnesium supplement and who want the recognized brand at a published strength.
What we don't like
It is not a laxative and is not labeled for constipation, which is what most readers of this page are looking for.
- Panel
- Supplement Facts (dietary supplement)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)
- Strength
- 250 mg per serving (per title)
- Count
- 120 softgels
- Labeled for constipation
- No
- Cost per unit
- $0.13 ($15.33 divided by 120)
What we like
- Recognized brand
- Strength and count in the title
Worth noting
- Not a laxative
- No constipation use on the label
Nature Made Magnesium Citrate 250 mg per Serving, 60 softgels
Nature Made
The same Nature Made supplement in a 60 count, about 18 cents a softgel.
Our verdict: The smaller Nature Made bottle: same 250 mg per serving, 60 softgels, about 18 cents each against 13 for the 120. Same Supplement Facts panel, same absence of any constipation use. Buy it if a clinician named a magnesium supplement and you want a shorter commitment.
Verified: Labeled: Nature Made Magnesium Citrate, 250 mg per serving, 60 softgels, per the listing title. Supplement Facts panel; not labeled for constipation. Live at $10.89 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Same supplement, smaller bottle. Nature Made Magnesium Citrate, 60 softgels, states 250 mg per serving in the title. Supplement Facts panel; structure/function language; no laxative use.
Follow the label's serving and any clinician instruction.
Who should buy it
People who want the Nature Made supplement in a shorter supply.
What we don't like
Not a laxative; more per softgel than the 120.
- Panel
- Supplement Facts (dietary supplement)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)
- Strength
- 250 mg per serving (per title)
- Count
- 60 softgels
- Labeled for constipation
- No
- Cost per unit
- $0.18 ($10.89 divided by 60)
What we like
- Shorter commitment
- Strength in the title
Worth noting
- Not a laxative
- More per softgel
NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate, 240 Veg Capsules
NOW
NOW's magnesium citrate supplement, 240 veg capsules, labeled for enzyme function and nervous system support.
Our verdict: NOW's magnesium citrate is a supplement whose own title tells you what it is for, enzyme function and nervous system support with the asterisks that mean these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not a laxative. At about 7 cents a capsule for 240 it is the lowest cost per capsule of the supplements here. The strength per capsule is not on the title.
Verified: Labeled: NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate, 240 veg capsules; the listing title states the structure/function claims enzyme function and nervous system support, each with the asterisk that points to the FDA disclaimer. Supplement Facts panel; not labeled for constipation. Live at $16.42 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
The title says supplement. NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate, 240 veg capsules, lists enzyme function and nervous system support in the listing title, with the asterisk that supplement labels use to point at the FDA disclaimer. Supplement Facts panel; the milligrams per capsule are on the panel, not the title.
Follow the label's serving and any clinician instruction. Vegetarian capsules per the title.
Who should buy it
People whose clinician has named a magnesium supplement and who want a vegetarian capsule at the lowest cost per capsule.
What we don't like
Not a laxative; strength per capsule not on the title.
- Panel
- Supplement Facts (dietary supplement)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)
- Strength
- Not on the listing title
- Count
- 240 veg capsules
- Labeled for constipation
- No
- Cost per unit
- $0.07 ($16.42 divided by 240)
What we like
- Lowest cost per capsule here
- Vegetarian capsules
Worth noting
- Not a laxative
- Strength not on the title
NOW Supplements Magnesium Citrate, 120 Veg Caps
NOW
The NOW supplement in a 120 count, also about 7 cents a capsule.
Our verdict: Half the NOW bottle at the same cost per capsule, about 7 cents. Same supplement, same panel, same absence of a constipation use. The one to buy if a clinician named a magnesium supplement and 240 capsules is too many.
Verified: Labeled: NOW Supplements Magnesium Citrate, 120 veg caps, enzyme function per the listing title with the FDA-disclaimer asterisk. Supplement Facts panel; not labeled for constipation. Live at $8.21 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Same supplement, half the bottle. NOW Magnesium Citrate, 120 veg caps, states enzyme function in the title with the supplement asterisk. Supplement Facts panel; not a laxative.
Follow the label's serving and any clinician instruction.
Who should buy it
People who want the NOW supplement in a shorter supply.
What we don't like
Not a laxative; strength not on the title.
- Panel
- Supplement Facts (dietary supplement)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)
- Strength
- Not on the listing title
- Count
- 120 veg caps
- Labeled for constipation
- No
- Cost per unit
- $0.07 ($8.21 divided by 120)
What we like
- Same per-capsule cost as the 240
- Shorter commitment
Worth noting
- Not a laxative
- Strength not on the title
Nutricost Magnesium Citrate 420 mg, 240 Veggie Capsules, 60 Servings
Nutricost
A 420 mg per serving magnesium supplement, 240 capsules for 60 servings; not a laxative.
Our verdict: Nutricost's magnesium citrate states the most information of any supplement here: 420 mg per serving, 240 capsules, 60 servings, which means four capsules per serving. It is a Tier B house and a supplement with a Supplement Facts panel. About 30 cents per serving. Not a laxative, not labeled for constipation, and last on the page because it is the least recognized house.
Verified: Labeled: Nutricost Magnesium Citrate 420 mg, 240 veggie capsules, 60 servings, all stated in the listing title. Supplement Facts panel; not labeled for constipation. Live at $17.95 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
The most disclosed supplement. Nutricost Magnesium Citrate states 420 mg, 240 veggie capsules and 60 servings in the listing title, which lets you work out that a serving is four capsules. Supplement Facts panel; structure/function language; no constipation use.
Follow the label's serving and any clinician instruction.
Who should buy it
People whose clinician has named a higher-milligram magnesium supplement and who want the arithmetic on the title.
What we don't like
Not a laxative, four capsules per serving, and a less recognized house.
- Panel
- Supplement Facts (dietary supplement)
- Active ingredient
- Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)
- Strength
- 420 mg per serving (per title)
- Count
- 240 capsules, 60 servings
- Labeled for constipation
- No
- Cost per unit
- $0.30 per serving ($17.95 divided by 60); $0.07 per capsule
What we like
- Strength, count and servings all in the title
- Vegetarian capsules
Worth noting
- Not a laxative
- Four capsules per serving
- Tier B house
What you'll need
The six things that go in the same cart as a suppository: the pharmacy-standard glycerin, a daily stool softener, an enema for the nights nothing else works, witch hazel wipes, sitz salts, and a barrier ointment. Prices are approximate at time of writing.
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Quick shop: every pick
Skip the scroll: the whole lineup, with a live price check on each.
- MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, Natural LemonThe Magnesium Citrate LaxativeMedRite · $6.99Check price on Amazon
- Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, Mixed BerryThe Magnesium Laxative in a ChewDulcolax · $9.88Check price on Amazon
- Nature Made Magnesium Citrate 250 mg per Serving, 120 softgelsThe Supplement: Nature Made 250 mg, 120Nature Made · $15.33Check price on Amazon
- Nature Made Magnesium Citrate 250 mg per Serving, 60 softgelsThe Supplement: Nature Made 250 mg, 60Nature Made · $10.89Check price on Amazon
- NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate, 240 Veg CapsulesThe Supplement: NOW, 240 Veg CapsNOW · $16.42Check price on Amazon
- NOW Supplements Magnesium Citrate, 120 Veg CapsThe Supplement: NOW, 120 Veg CapsNOW · $8.21Check price on Amazon
- Nutricost Magnesium Citrate 420 mg, 240 Veggie Capsules, 60 ServingsThe Supplement: Nutricost 420 mgNutricost · $17.95Check price on Amazon
How we chose
We verified every magnesium citrate listing on Amazon in our catalog, plus the one magnesium saline laxative sold as a chew, and sorted them by the panel each carries. A product with a Drug Facts panel and a constipation use is an OTC laxative and is ranked as one; a product with a Supplement Facts panel is a dietary supplement and is described, not ranked as a laxative. For each we recorded the strength and count where the listing title states them, the price live on Amazon on September 5, 2026 via the Creators API, and cost per unit only where both price and count are published. We do not compute a laxative dose from a supplement's milligrams; the two panels are not interchangeable.
Compliance: the laxatives are OTC drugs and we quote their labels' Uses and Directions only, including the age lines, the full-glass-of-liquid line, the kidney disease and magnesium-restricted diet warnings, the 1 week line and the stop lines. The supplements are described in structure/function language only, as their labels describe them, and are never said to treat, relieve or prevent constipation. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We are a research and verification desk, not a pharmacy, and nothing here is medical advice. No brand paid for a placement.
Questions, answered
What is the best magnesium citrate for constipation?
The one labeled for it: the magnesium citrate oral solution. MedRite Magnesium Citrate, natural lemon, at $6.99 at our September 5, 2026 check, carries a Drug Facts panel that reads relief of occasional constipation with a bowel movement generally in 30 minutes to 6 hours. The magnesium citrate capsules from Nature Made, NOW and Nutricost are dietary supplements with Supplement Facts panels and are not labeled for constipation.
Do magnesium citrate capsules work as a laxative?
Their labels do not say so. Magnesium citrate capsules and softgels are dietary supplements with structure/function claims such as supports normal muscle and nerve function; they carry no constipation use, no time window and no laxative directions. The product labeled as a laxative is the oral solution. We do not tell readers to use a supplement as a laxative, because its label does not.
How long does magnesium citrate take to work?
The magnesium citrate oral solution's Drug Facts label states that it generally produces a bowel movement in 30 minutes to 6 hours. Magnesium citrate supplements state no time window because they are not laxatives.
Who should not take magnesium citrate?
The laxative label says ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease or are on a magnesium-restricted diet, and to ask a doctor for children under 6. It also says to drink a full glass of liquid with each dose, that it is for occasional use, and not to use for more than 1 week without a doctor. Stop and ask a doctor for rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after use.
How much magnesium citrate should I take for constipation?
The amount the Drug Facts label on the oral solution prints for your age, and no more; we do not restate volumes. Supplement labels print a serving for magnesium intake, not a laxative dose, and the two are not interchangeable.
Is magnesium citrate safe to take every day?
The laxative label says occasional use and not more than 1 week without a doctor. A daily magnesium supplement is a different product with a different panel and a question for a clinician. Needing a laxative every day is the label's own reason to see one.
What is the difference between magnesium citrate and magnesium hydroxide?
Both are saline laxatives when sold as OTC drugs. Magnesium citrate is the lemon oral solution; magnesium hydroxide is milk of magnesia and the active in products such as Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid. Both carry 30 minutes to 6 hours on their labels and the same kidney and magnesium warnings.
Filed under Buyer's Guide
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